The secretary isn't a new concept; it's been around for a few hundred years. The name itself comes from a Latin word secernere which means to distinguish or set apart, but the word eventually had the notion of confidential or secret. The English word secret is derived from this and (more specifically) the Latin word secretum which is the passive participle of secernere. Originally, a person whose title was "secretarius" was someone who worked for someone of great importance (like a king) and who was incharge of confidential information.
Until the 1800's, the secretary was a male who dealt with specifically correspondence and secret matters. During that time, the secretary job began to be split into more specific avenues with specific responsibilities (such as business secretary or financial secretary). One example of this still exists in the Cabinet members for the President (Secretary of State, Treasury Secretary, etc.) The term secretary was soon used by itself in only two cases: as a title for someone (such as Secretary James Arthur) or when the job was a modest position like the personal assistant to who's in charge. These jobs began to have less and less authority and as such, more women were introduced into them, and the result was the creation of terms like administrative assistant.
Until recently, shorthand was a necessity for a secretary to learn. In 1870, Sir Isaac Pitman founded a school to be trained in shorthand, but it was only offered for men to join. When the typewriter was invented in the 1880's, more women joined the workforce as secretaries. World War I was the turnaround for women in the industry. Many men went off to war, leaving vacant jobs which women filled eagerly. It was at this time that the shift from men to women happened. By the 1930's, there were few men secretaries.
Today the term secretary has almost become abandoned in some parts of the country. Some even say that it is demeaning to women and it promotes a negative stereotype. The popularity of other names like administrative assistant have been steadily on the rise. However, historically, the term secretary was reserved for someone with a powerful position for a powerful person. It's power has diminished greatly, even though it is still an important position for business, both public and private.
Bet you didn't know that!
Thursday, June 28, 2012
Monday, June 25, 2012
Where'd the MLB Teams Get Their Names? Part 6
Baseball is America's game, and some of the teams seem to portray the American spirit of the game. Some of that is because of how long they'd been around. But where did they get their names from? Sure some seem simple and obvious: Yankees for the Americans of the Revolitionary War era, birds like Cardinals, Blue Jays, and Orioles, or then there are colors like Reds. But what is a Met? What are the Dodgers dodging? Although there are many things in dispute in the MLB (such as baseball's origin itself, the year of the MLB's beginning, etc.), the names of the teams typically have a origin. Here is Part 6 of an explanation of these.
The Western Division Teams 2
27. Athletics - The A's have a very long tradition that dates back to the 1860's in Philadelphia. The original team was simply called "Athletic Base Ball Club", but the team shortened it to Athletic and in prose they became plural (the Athletics). Athletic of Philadelphia was more accurate, but later generations have called the team the Philadelphia Athletics. They were a very strong team and joined the National League in 1876, but financial problems and poor play caused them to not go west to play games and they were dropped from the league for the next year. In 1901, they joined the new American League and had success by winning 5 World Series titles in 20 years, but the times turned on the team, and they left for Kansas City in 1955. The next 13 years weren't much better, so the team left KC for Oakland in 1968 where they have been ever since. Because of the abrupt leaving of Kansas City, the Royals were created to take their place. The A's logo is a classic look that dates back to at least the 1870's. The team was named the "white elephants by Giants's manager John McGraw, and the Athletics took the white elephant as their mascot, and you'll see the white elephant logo on the A's jersey sleeves to this day.
28. Dodgers - The Dodgers is another example of one of those teams that didn't have an official name for awhile. They began play in 1883 in Brooklyn and were first called the Atlantics, which was the name of a defunct team from before. Then they were called the Grays, then the Grooms (or Bridegrooms). From 1891-98, they were referred to as the Trolley Dodgers. For the next 11 years, they were called the Superbas. From 1914-31, they were called the Robins. In 1932, the team settled on the Dodgers, short for the old Trolley Dodgers name. It seemed to fit with the trolleys of the New York area. The Dodgers didn't win a World Series until 1955, which seemed to cement the Dodgers' being able to stay in Brooklyn, but the Giants and the Dodgers agreed to move west together, and after the 1957 season, the Dodgers moved to Los Angeles.
29. Rangers - The Rangers have one of the most confusing histories. The franchise began in 1961 as an expansion franchise. When the old Washington Senators left and went to Minnesota to be the Twins, Washington was allowed to have the expansion franchise which named itself.. the Senators. This version of the Senators was awful, losing an average of 90 games a season and having only one winning season. The poor decisions of the franchise and poor attendance made it seem necessary to move the team elsewhere. More poor decisions were made in trying to obtain a buyer for the team. Another problem for the team was the Baltimore Orioles (only 45 miles north) that began winning in the late 60's and early 70's, which sapped the fan base from seeing the Senators. After an offer to put a down payment on the team and the proposition of moving the team to Arlington, Texas, the GM agreed and the league voted to approve the move. The last game of the 1971 season had the Senators winning against the Yankees when crowds rushed the field, stealing whatever they could grab as souvenirs (including the bases). This happened because the security guards had gone home early. The team relocated to Arlington (a move that the league had struck down when the Kansas City Athletics tried to relocate a few years earlier) for the 1972 season. They were renamed the Rangers in honor of the historical law enforcement agency of the same name.
30. Diamondbacks - Baseball in Phoenix was a talked about thing for a number of years before the Diamondbacks came to be. The city grew from the 99th largest city in 1940 to the 9th largest in 1990. Add in the fact that Cactus League Spring Training takes place in Arizona and you have a hotbed of desire for an MLB franchise. The first serious talks of baseball in the desert was in the 1980's when the St. Louis football Cardinals were talking of moving to Arizona and sharing a facility with the new MLB franchise. That deal fell through and another deal came up in the early 1990's. In 1995, a franchise was awarded to Phoenix to begin play in 1998. Originally, the team was going to be an American League team (since that same year the Devil Rays were beginning play), but many owners objected, so the team went into the National League. This would cause an odd number of teams in each league, so the Brewers switched from the American League to the National League, which preserved balance. The name itself came from the Western Diamondback Rattlesnake which is common in the area.
Phew! Bet you didn't know all that!
The Western Division Teams 2
27. Athletics - The A's have a very long tradition that dates back to the 1860's in Philadelphia. The original team was simply called "Athletic Base Ball Club", but the team shortened it to Athletic and in prose they became plural (the Athletics). Athletic of Philadelphia was more accurate, but later generations have called the team the Philadelphia Athletics. They were a very strong team and joined the National League in 1876, but financial problems and poor play caused them to not go west to play games and they were dropped from the league for the next year. In 1901, they joined the new American League and had success by winning 5 World Series titles in 20 years, but the times turned on the team, and they left for Kansas City in 1955. The next 13 years weren't much better, so the team left KC for Oakland in 1968 where they have been ever since. Because of the abrupt leaving of Kansas City, the Royals were created to take their place. The A's logo is a classic look that dates back to at least the 1870's. The team was named the "white elephants by Giants's manager John McGraw, and the Athletics took the white elephant as their mascot, and you'll see the white elephant logo on the A's jersey sleeves to this day.
28. Dodgers - The Dodgers is another example of one of those teams that didn't have an official name for awhile. They began play in 1883 in Brooklyn and were first called the Atlantics, which was the name of a defunct team from before. Then they were called the Grays, then the Grooms (or Bridegrooms). From 1891-98, they were referred to as the Trolley Dodgers. For the next 11 years, they were called the Superbas. From 1914-31, they were called the Robins. In 1932, the team settled on the Dodgers, short for the old Trolley Dodgers name. It seemed to fit with the trolleys of the New York area. The Dodgers didn't win a World Series until 1955, which seemed to cement the Dodgers' being able to stay in Brooklyn, but the Giants and the Dodgers agreed to move west together, and after the 1957 season, the Dodgers moved to Los Angeles.
29. Rangers - The Rangers have one of the most confusing histories. The franchise began in 1961 as an expansion franchise. When the old Washington Senators left and went to Minnesota to be the Twins, Washington was allowed to have the expansion franchise which named itself.. the Senators. This version of the Senators was awful, losing an average of 90 games a season and having only one winning season. The poor decisions of the franchise and poor attendance made it seem necessary to move the team elsewhere. More poor decisions were made in trying to obtain a buyer for the team. Another problem for the team was the Baltimore Orioles (only 45 miles north) that began winning in the late 60's and early 70's, which sapped the fan base from seeing the Senators. After an offer to put a down payment on the team and the proposition of moving the team to Arlington, Texas, the GM agreed and the league voted to approve the move. The last game of the 1971 season had the Senators winning against the Yankees when crowds rushed the field, stealing whatever they could grab as souvenirs (including the bases). This happened because the security guards had gone home early. The team relocated to Arlington (a move that the league had struck down when the Kansas City Athletics tried to relocate a few years earlier) for the 1972 season. They were renamed the Rangers in honor of the historical law enforcement agency of the same name.
30. Diamondbacks - Baseball in Phoenix was a talked about thing for a number of years before the Diamondbacks came to be. The city grew from the 99th largest city in 1940 to the 9th largest in 1990. Add in the fact that Cactus League Spring Training takes place in Arizona and you have a hotbed of desire for an MLB franchise. The first serious talks of baseball in the desert was in the 1980's when the St. Louis football Cardinals were talking of moving to Arizona and sharing a facility with the new MLB franchise. That deal fell through and another deal came up in the early 1990's. In 1995, a franchise was awarded to Phoenix to begin play in 1998. Originally, the team was going to be an American League team (since that same year the Devil Rays were beginning play), but many owners objected, so the team went into the National League. This would cause an odd number of teams in each league, so the Brewers switched from the American League to the National League, which preserved balance. The name itself came from the Western Diamondback Rattlesnake which is common in the area.
Phew! Bet you didn't know all that!
Thursday, June 21, 2012
Where'd the MLB Teams Get Their Names? Part 5
Baseball is America's game, and some of the teams seem to portray the American spirit of the game. Some of that is because of how long they'd been around. But where did they get their names from? Sure some seem simple and obvious: Yankees for the Americans of the Revolitionary War era, birds like Cardinals, Blue Jays, and Orioles, or then there are colors like Reds. But what is a Met? What are the Dodgers dodging? Although there are many things in dispute in the MLB (such as baseball's origin itself, the year of the MLB's beginning, etc.), the names of the teams typically have a origin. Here is Part 5 of an explanation of these.
The Western Division Teams 1
22. Giants - The Giants began in 1883 as the New York Gothams. They lasted as the Gothams until 1885. Supposedly, after beating the Phillies, the manager called his players giants, and the name stuck. That year the team was renamed the Giants. The team continued in that way until 1957 when the Giants announced they were moving to San Francisco. Since 1958, the Giants have called San Francisco home.
23. Angels - The Angels' name had been around as a baseball team in LA since the 1880's, but the current team was an expansion team from 1961. They were known as the Los Angeles Angels from 1961-65, when they were called the Calfornia Angels. This lasted until 1996. The following year the brand was changed when the team was sold, and since the city of Anaheim put up so much money for renovations to the stadium, they were known as the Anaheim Angels. In 2005, they were sold again and renamed the "Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim".
24. Padres - The Padres began as an expansion franchise in 1969. They were named after a minor league team in San Diego that lasted from 1936-68. The "padres" in the team name is a reference to the Franciscan friars that founded San Diego in 1769 (for those that don't know, padre is Spanish for father).
25. Mariners - After the Pilots debacle in 1969-70, some members of Seattle sued the MLB for breach of contract. They built the Kingdome in hopes of acquiring a new franchise. In 1977, the Mariners began in honor of the seamen that were tied to the history of Seattle.
26. Rockies - In 1985, the Pirates almost went to Denver, but that deal fizzled out. There had been talk of a Denver team for a number of years. It finally happened when Denver was awarded a team in 1991, which began play in 1993 as an expansion franchise alongside the Florida Marlins. The Rockies are named simply after the Rocky Mountains.
Check back for Part 6!
The Western Division Teams 1
22. Giants - The Giants began in 1883 as the New York Gothams. They lasted as the Gothams until 1885. Supposedly, after beating the Phillies, the manager called his players giants, and the name stuck. That year the team was renamed the Giants. The team continued in that way until 1957 when the Giants announced they were moving to San Francisco. Since 1958, the Giants have called San Francisco home.
23. Angels - The Angels' name had been around as a baseball team in LA since the 1880's, but the current team was an expansion team from 1961. They were known as the Los Angeles Angels from 1961-65, when they were called the Calfornia Angels. This lasted until 1996. The following year the brand was changed when the team was sold, and since the city of Anaheim put up so much money for renovations to the stadium, they were known as the Anaheim Angels. In 2005, they were sold again and renamed the "Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim".
24. Padres - The Padres began as an expansion franchise in 1969. They were named after a minor league team in San Diego that lasted from 1936-68. The "padres" in the team name is a reference to the Franciscan friars that founded San Diego in 1769 (for those that don't know, padre is Spanish for father).
25. Mariners - After the Pilots debacle in 1969-70, some members of Seattle sued the MLB for breach of contract. They built the Kingdome in hopes of acquiring a new franchise. In 1977, the Mariners began in honor of the seamen that were tied to the history of Seattle.
26. Rockies - In 1985, the Pirates almost went to Denver, but that deal fizzled out. There had been talk of a Denver team for a number of years. It finally happened when Denver was awarded a team in 1991, which began play in 1993 as an expansion franchise alongside the Florida Marlins. The Rockies are named simply after the Rocky Mountains.
Check back for Part 6!
Monday, June 18, 2012
Where'd the MLB Teams Get Their Names? Part 4
Baseball is America's game, and some of the teams seem to portray the American spirit of the game. Some of that is because of how long they'd been around. But where did they get their names from? Sure some seem simple and obvious: Yankees for the Americans of the Revolitionary War era, birds like Cardinals, Blue Jays, and Orioles, or then there are colors like Reds. But what is a Met? What are the Dodgers dodging? Although there are many things in dispute in the MLB (such as baseball's origin itself, the year of the MLB's beginning, etc.), the names of the teams typically have a origin. Here is Part 4 of an explanation of these.
The Central Division Teams 2
16. Indians - The Indians began its life in 1894 as the Grand Rapids Rustlers, a minor league team in the Western League. It moved to Cleveland in 1900 and was renamed the Lake Shores. When the American League became announced itself in direct competition with the National League in 1901, the team was renamed the Bluebirds. The following year, it was renamed the Bronchos. The team didn't do well and as a publicity move, newspapers had a write in competition which renamed the team the Naps, which it stayed from 1903-14. In 1915, there was another write in competition to rename the team, and the name Indians was chosen. Some believe that it was in honor of a former player named Louis Sockalexis who was a Native American player for the short-lived MLB team Cleveland Spiders, which were sometimes referred to as the Indians.
17. Cardinals - The Cardinals began as the St. Louis Brown Stockings in 1882 in the American Association, a minor league. The following year, the name was shortened to just the Browns. The American Association went backrupt and the Browns joined the National League in 1892. The team declined for the rest of the decade. The team changed its colors from brown to red in 1899 and were known as the Perfectos. Allegedly, a woman thought the uniforms looked to be a "lovely shade of cardinal", so the unofficial name became the Cardinals. In 1900, the team name was changed to the Cardinals.
18. Royals - The Royals dates to the second round of expansion - 1969. The Athletics moved from Kansas City after the 1967 season and a senator was so irritated that he threatened anti-trust suits against the MLB, who agreed to allow Kansas City to be an expansion city in 1971. The senator pushed for 1969, which was granted. The name is specifically named after the American Royal which is an annual livestock show that dates back to 1899. The name also is thought to be a homage to the Negro League team the Kansas City Monarchs and even the defunct Kansas City Blues minor league team.
19. Pirates - Teams had been playing in Pittsburgh since 1876, but the strongest of these teams joined the American Association in 1882, calling themselves simply Allegheny (which at that time was a separate city across the Allegheny River from Pittsburgh). In 1887, they were called (officially) the Pittsburgh Alleghenys when they joined the National League. After a short legal problem, the team was renamed the Innocents for the 1890 season. At the end of the season, the team was able to secure a second basemen that outraged many people who called the actions "piratical". The team adopted the name Pirates for the 1891 season.
20. Twins - The Twins began in 1894 as the minor league team Kansas City Blues. In 1901, the team moved to Washington DC, joined the American League, and changed its name to the Senators. The Senators had a long and mediocre career in Washington DC. In 1960, MLB announced that Minneapolis had been granted an expansion team. The owner of the Senators offered to move his team to Minneapolis and allow Washington to have the expansion team. It was agreed, and the team moved in 1961. The new name was the Twins after the Twin Cities.
21. Brewers - The Brewers began as an expansion franchise in 1969, but they started as the Seattle Pilots. The deal with the Royals was rushed, and the Royals seemed to get the better side of the deal, so the Pilots were underfunded, undertalented, and were out of the gate not ready to compete. The team ended the first season in such bad shape financially that they were sold and moved to Milwaukee for the 1970 season. The name Brewers is in direct reference to the brewing industry there, but the name of the MLB team is directly related to the previous (and shortlived) MLB team called the Brewers and specifically the minor league team that occupied the city from 1902-52.
Check back for Part 5!
The Central Division Teams 2
16. Indians - The Indians began its life in 1894 as the Grand Rapids Rustlers, a minor league team in the Western League. It moved to Cleveland in 1900 and was renamed the Lake Shores. When the American League became announced itself in direct competition with the National League in 1901, the team was renamed the Bluebirds. The following year, it was renamed the Bronchos. The team didn't do well and as a publicity move, newspapers had a write in competition which renamed the team the Naps, which it stayed from 1903-14. In 1915, there was another write in competition to rename the team, and the name Indians was chosen. Some believe that it was in honor of a former player named Louis Sockalexis who was a Native American player for the short-lived MLB team Cleveland Spiders, which were sometimes referred to as the Indians.
17. Cardinals - The Cardinals began as the St. Louis Brown Stockings in 1882 in the American Association, a minor league. The following year, the name was shortened to just the Browns. The American Association went backrupt and the Browns joined the National League in 1892. The team declined for the rest of the decade. The team changed its colors from brown to red in 1899 and were known as the Perfectos. Allegedly, a woman thought the uniforms looked to be a "lovely shade of cardinal", so the unofficial name became the Cardinals. In 1900, the team name was changed to the Cardinals.
18. Royals - The Royals dates to the second round of expansion - 1969. The Athletics moved from Kansas City after the 1967 season and a senator was so irritated that he threatened anti-trust suits against the MLB, who agreed to allow Kansas City to be an expansion city in 1971. The senator pushed for 1969, which was granted. The name is specifically named after the American Royal which is an annual livestock show that dates back to 1899. The name also is thought to be a homage to the Negro League team the Kansas City Monarchs and even the defunct Kansas City Blues minor league team.
19. Pirates - Teams had been playing in Pittsburgh since 1876, but the strongest of these teams joined the American Association in 1882, calling themselves simply Allegheny (which at that time was a separate city across the Allegheny River from Pittsburgh). In 1887, they were called (officially) the Pittsburgh Alleghenys when they joined the National League. After a short legal problem, the team was renamed the Innocents for the 1890 season. At the end of the season, the team was able to secure a second basemen that outraged many people who called the actions "piratical". The team adopted the name Pirates for the 1891 season.
20. Twins - The Twins began in 1894 as the minor league team Kansas City Blues. In 1901, the team moved to Washington DC, joined the American League, and changed its name to the Senators. The Senators had a long and mediocre career in Washington DC. In 1960, MLB announced that Minneapolis had been granted an expansion team. The owner of the Senators offered to move his team to Minneapolis and allow Washington to have the expansion team. It was agreed, and the team moved in 1961. The new name was the Twins after the Twin Cities.
21. Brewers - The Brewers began as an expansion franchise in 1969, but they started as the Seattle Pilots. The deal with the Royals was rushed, and the Royals seemed to get the better side of the deal, so the Pilots were underfunded, undertalented, and were out of the gate not ready to compete. The team ended the first season in such bad shape financially that they were sold and moved to Milwaukee for the 1970 season. The name Brewers is in direct reference to the brewing industry there, but the name of the MLB team is directly related to the previous (and shortlived) MLB team called the Brewers and specifically the minor league team that occupied the city from 1902-52.
Check back for Part 5!
Thursday, June 14, 2012
Where'd the MLB Teams Get Their Names? Part 3
Baseball is America's game, and some of the teams seem to portray the American spirit of the game. Some of that is because of how long they'd been around. But where did they get their names from? Sure some seem simple and obvious: Yankees for the Americans of the Revolitionary War era, birds like Cardinals, Blue Jays, and Orioles, or then there are colors like Reds. But what is a Met? What are the Dodgers dodging? Although there are many things in dispute in the MLB (such as baseball's origin itself, the year of the MLB's beginning, etc.), the names of the teams typically have a origin. Here is Part 3 of an explanation of these.
The Central Division Teams 1
11. Reds - The Reds also have a very confusing origin story. There have been three Reds franchises in Cincinnati. The first was the famous Red Stockings in 1869-70 (which moved to Boston and became the Braves). The second was formed in 1876 when the National League formed. They also called themselves the Red Stockings, but had nothing to do with the first franchise. In 1880, this franchise was expelled from the National League for some of its practices. A third team was formed in 1882 and was a charter member of the American Association. It used the name Red Stockings also. The team left the American Association after the 1889 season and joined the National League in 1890. When the team joined the NL, they lost the "Stockings" from their name and simply became the Reds.
12. Tigers - The Tigers were originally known as the Wolverines (which is from the Michigan nickname, the Wolverine State), but the present franchise can trace its name to a previous franchise called the Wolverines. The original club existed from 1881-88 and was actually a member of the National League. The team then folded. There were attempts to revive baseball in Detroit, but either the leagues they were in folded or the teams didn't make it. Finally in 1894, the Western League (a minor league) reformed and the Wolverines were a charter club. It was during this time that many people called the team the Tigers to differentiate it from the old Wolverines team. When the Western League became the American League, the Tigers went with it into the MLB.
13. Astros - The Astros began in the first expansion year of 1962. The club was started when some members pushed for Houston obtaining a team, but the MLB declined. Those in Houston tried to band with other cities and announced they would form their own league. The MLB (deciding they didn't want to lose future potential expansion sites) chose to expand, and Houston was chosen as a city. At first the team was called the Colt .45's, but was changed in 1965 to the Astros when the team moved into the Astrodome. The term "Astros" also has significance for Houston's involvement with space and NASA.
14. White Sox - The White Sox began as the Sioux City Cornhuskers in the Western League. Charles Comiskey bought the team and moved it to St. Paul, MN. In 1900, Comiskey moved the team to Chicago and called it the White Stockings (which was an old nickname for the Cubs). Legend has it that newspaper men couldn't fit "Stockings" on a headline, so they shortened it to "Sox".
15. Cubs - The Cubs began playing games under the name of the White Stockings in 1870, but quit for two years after the Chicago fire in 1871. They continued as the White Stockings from 1874-89 (joining the National League in 1876). By 1890, the team was playing well and became known as the Colts. However, after a disappointing 1897 finish, their manager was released, and the media dubbed them the Orphans or Remnants. The team was sold in 1902 and the name was changed to the Cubs. The Cubs are only second to the Red Stockings (now the Braves) organization for being the oldest franchise, mostly because of the two year absence because of the fire. The Cubs are the oldest franchise still in their original city (not to be confused with the Phillies who are the oldest one-city, one-name franchise).
Check back for Part 4!
The Central Division Teams 1
11. Reds - The Reds also have a very confusing origin story. There have been three Reds franchises in Cincinnati. The first was the famous Red Stockings in 1869-70 (which moved to Boston and became the Braves). The second was formed in 1876 when the National League formed. They also called themselves the Red Stockings, but had nothing to do with the first franchise. In 1880, this franchise was expelled from the National League for some of its practices. A third team was formed in 1882 and was a charter member of the American Association. It used the name Red Stockings also. The team left the American Association after the 1889 season and joined the National League in 1890. When the team joined the NL, they lost the "Stockings" from their name and simply became the Reds.
12. Tigers - The Tigers were originally known as the Wolverines (which is from the Michigan nickname, the Wolverine State), but the present franchise can trace its name to a previous franchise called the Wolverines. The original club existed from 1881-88 and was actually a member of the National League. The team then folded. There were attempts to revive baseball in Detroit, but either the leagues they were in folded or the teams didn't make it. Finally in 1894, the Western League (a minor league) reformed and the Wolverines were a charter club. It was during this time that many people called the team the Tigers to differentiate it from the old Wolverines team. When the Western League became the American League, the Tigers went with it into the MLB.
13. Astros - The Astros began in the first expansion year of 1962. The club was started when some members pushed for Houston obtaining a team, but the MLB declined. Those in Houston tried to band with other cities and announced they would form their own league. The MLB (deciding they didn't want to lose future potential expansion sites) chose to expand, and Houston was chosen as a city. At first the team was called the Colt .45's, but was changed in 1965 to the Astros when the team moved into the Astrodome. The term "Astros" also has significance for Houston's involvement with space and NASA.
14. White Sox - The White Sox began as the Sioux City Cornhuskers in the Western League. Charles Comiskey bought the team and moved it to St. Paul, MN. In 1900, Comiskey moved the team to Chicago and called it the White Stockings (which was an old nickname for the Cubs). Legend has it that newspaper men couldn't fit "Stockings" on a headline, so they shortened it to "Sox".
15. Cubs - The Cubs began playing games under the name of the White Stockings in 1870, but quit for two years after the Chicago fire in 1871. They continued as the White Stockings from 1874-89 (joining the National League in 1876). By 1890, the team was playing well and became known as the Colts. However, after a disappointing 1897 finish, their manager was released, and the media dubbed them the Orphans or Remnants. The team was sold in 1902 and the name was changed to the Cubs. The Cubs are only second to the Red Stockings (now the Braves) organization for being the oldest franchise, mostly because of the two year absence because of the fire. The Cubs are the oldest franchise still in their original city (not to be confused with the Phillies who are the oldest one-city, one-name franchise).
Check back for Part 4!
Monday, June 11, 2012
Where'd the MLB Teams Get Their Names? Part 2
Baseball is America's game, and some of the teams seem to portray the American spirit of the game. Some of that is because of how long they'd been around. But where did they get their names from? Sure some seem simple and obvious: Yankees for the Americans of the Revolitionary War era, birds like Cardinals, Blue Jays, and Orioles, or then there are colors like Reds. But what is a Met? What are the Dodgers dodging? Although there are many things in dispute in the MLB (such as baseball's origin itself, the year of the MLB's beginning, etc.), the names of the teams typically have a origin. Here is Part 2 of an explanation of these.
The Eastern Division Teams 2
6. Red Sox - The Red Sox are a perfect example of how strange origins can be. The Red Sox began as a charter member of the new American League in 1901. Their name, however, wasn't officially present until 1908. From 1901-07, the team had no official name. They were referred to as the Americans, the Bostonians, and the Pilgrims. In 1907, the National League team of Boston (now the Braves) went to an all-white jersey and leaving the red out of it. The American League team took red for their color and had long red socks. Instead of officially being known as the red stockings, which was already well-known for Cincinnati and the National League team in Boston, the name "Red Sox" was chosen. The "Sox" for "socks" had already been used by the Chicago White Sox.
7. Marlins - The Marlins began in the expansion year of 1993. They are literally named after the fish, which is a common animal off the coasts of Florida. Beginning with the 2012 season, the Florida Marlins moved into a new stadium and because Miami put up so much of the costs, a new logo was designed and the Marlins would then be known as the Miami Marlins.
8. Yankees - In 1901, when the American League was establishing itself, there was bad blood between it and the National League. The National League didn't want an American League team in New York, so the franchise set itself up in Baltimore and became known as the Baltimore Orioles (after the National League team of the same name and location dissolved after the 1899 season). The two leagues were able to work out an agreement, and the franchise moved to New York in 1903. Until 1912, the team was known as the Highlanders because of the Hilltop Park where they played. The unnoficial nickname of Yankees (or Yanks) came from sports writers who couldn't fit Highlanders on a headline for newspapers. In 1913, the team name was changed to Yankees.
9. Phillies - The Phillies began in 1883 as the Philadelphia Quakers. They changed their name to the Philadelphias, which was shortened to Phillies. From 1884-90, both names were used, but in 1890 the name Phillies was officially used. The Philadelphia Phillies are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of American sports.
10. Orioles - The Orioles can trace its origins to the minor league team called the Milwaukee Brewers. In 1901 when the American League was established, the Brewers played a loan season in the MLB before it relocated to St. Louis and became known as the Browns (in honor of former St. Louis team names that included Browns and Brown Stockings). The team never achieved much success in St. Louis (making it to the World Series once in 1944). The Browns were sold in 1953 and moved to Baltimore where the name changed to Orioles, which was in honor of the number of teams from Baltimore that had the name (including the Yankees original name).
Check back for Part 3!
The Eastern Division Teams 2
6. Red Sox - The Red Sox are a perfect example of how strange origins can be. The Red Sox began as a charter member of the new American League in 1901. Their name, however, wasn't officially present until 1908. From 1901-07, the team had no official name. They were referred to as the Americans, the Bostonians, and the Pilgrims. In 1907, the National League team of Boston (now the Braves) went to an all-white jersey and leaving the red out of it. The American League team took red for their color and had long red socks. Instead of officially being known as the red stockings, which was already well-known for Cincinnati and the National League team in Boston, the name "Red Sox" was chosen. The "Sox" for "socks" had already been used by the Chicago White Sox.
7. Marlins - The Marlins began in the expansion year of 1993. They are literally named after the fish, which is a common animal off the coasts of Florida. Beginning with the 2012 season, the Florida Marlins moved into a new stadium and because Miami put up so much of the costs, a new logo was designed and the Marlins would then be known as the Miami Marlins.
8. Yankees - In 1901, when the American League was establishing itself, there was bad blood between it and the National League. The National League didn't want an American League team in New York, so the franchise set itself up in Baltimore and became known as the Baltimore Orioles (after the National League team of the same name and location dissolved after the 1899 season). The two leagues were able to work out an agreement, and the franchise moved to New York in 1903. Until 1912, the team was known as the Highlanders because of the Hilltop Park where they played. The unnoficial nickname of Yankees (or Yanks) came from sports writers who couldn't fit Highlanders on a headline for newspapers. In 1913, the team name was changed to Yankees.
9. Phillies - The Phillies began in 1883 as the Philadelphia Quakers. They changed their name to the Philadelphias, which was shortened to Phillies. From 1884-90, both names were used, but in 1890 the name Phillies was officially used. The Philadelphia Phillies are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of American sports.
10. Orioles - The Orioles can trace its origins to the minor league team called the Milwaukee Brewers. In 1901 when the American League was established, the Brewers played a loan season in the MLB before it relocated to St. Louis and became known as the Browns (in honor of former St. Louis team names that included Browns and Brown Stockings). The team never achieved much success in St. Louis (making it to the World Series once in 1944). The Browns were sold in 1953 and moved to Baltimore where the name changed to Orioles, which was in honor of the number of teams from Baltimore that had the name (including the Yankees original name).
Check back for Part 3!
Thursday, June 7, 2012
Where'd the MLB Teams Get Their Names? Part 1
Baseball is America's game, and some of the teams seem to portray the American spirit of the game. Some of that is because of how long they'd been around. But where did they get their names from? Sure some seem simple and obvious: Yankees for the Americans of the Revolitionary War era, birds like Cardinals, Blue Jays, and Orioles, or then there are colors like Reds. But what is a Met? What are the Dodgers dodging? Although there are many things in dispute in the MLB (such as baseball's origin itself, the year of the MLB's beginning, etc.), the names of the teams typically have a origin. Here is Part 1 of an explanation of these.
The Eastern Division Teams 1
1. Mets - The Mets began their franchise in 1962 as part of the first expansion year. Five years earlier, the Dodgers and Giants left New York, leaving only the Yankees in town. The Mets took their traditional orange and blue from the departed teams (Dodger blue and Giant orange). The name Mets is short for Metropolitans, and is named after New York Metropolitans club from the late 1800's.
2. Rays - The Rays began in 1998 as the Devil Rays, which is a type of actual fish found in the ocean. Some call is bad luck, but the Rays finished last nine of their ten first seasons. In 2007, it was announced that their name and look would change. The following year, the name was shortened to just "Rays", which would be used both for the fish as well as a light ray. Once that changed happened, they went to the World Series that same year.
3. Nationals - The Nationals came into existence in the second expansion year for the MLB - 1969. In that year, the Montreal Expos were created (named after the 1967 World's Fair Expo that was held in Montreal). The Expos never had good luck, only having a Division title in 1981. By 2002, the team was suffering considerably, and the MLB considered revoking their franchise. In 2003-04, the Expos literally had no home, playing home games in San Juan, Puerto Rico. In 2005, the Expos moved from Montreal to Washington, DC, and were renamed the Nationals. The name itself was a combination of two origins: from 1886-89, there was a team named the Washington Nationals (or as they were also known, Statesmen), and the old Washington Senators were sometimes referred to as Nationals or Nats.
4. Blue Jays - The Blue Jays began in another expansion year - 1977. They are simply named after the bird. However, Toronto specifically wanted a blue mascot for their new team since blue was the traditional color for the mascots of the other professional teams in Toronto.
5. Braves - The Braves have a very long history. Few people know that the Braves began their history as the historically famous Cincinnati Red Stockings, the first MLB team, established in 1869. The team voted to dissolve after the 1870 season, and they set up their new home in Boston. Beginning in 1871, the team was known as the Boston Red Stockings at first then became known as the Beaneaters in 1883 (also sometimes called the Red Caps). When Boston started another team in 1901, the Beaneaters struggled, so to promote themselves better, they changed their name to the Doves in 1907, then changed it to the Rustlers in 1911. In 1912, the team was named the Braves in honor of their owner's affiliation with the Tammany Hall political machine (which used an Indian chief as its symbol). The Boston Braves remained until they moved to Milwaukee in 1953. The Braves again relocated, this time to Atlanta for the 1966 season.
Check back for Part 2!
The Eastern Division Teams 1
1. Mets - The Mets began their franchise in 1962 as part of the first expansion year. Five years earlier, the Dodgers and Giants left New York, leaving only the Yankees in town. The Mets took their traditional orange and blue from the departed teams (Dodger blue and Giant orange). The name Mets is short for Metropolitans, and is named after New York Metropolitans club from the late 1800's.
2. Rays - The Rays began in 1998 as the Devil Rays, which is a type of actual fish found in the ocean. Some call is bad luck, but the Rays finished last nine of their ten first seasons. In 2007, it was announced that their name and look would change. The following year, the name was shortened to just "Rays", which would be used both for the fish as well as a light ray. Once that changed happened, they went to the World Series that same year.
3. Nationals - The Nationals came into existence in the second expansion year for the MLB - 1969. In that year, the Montreal Expos were created (named after the 1967 World's Fair Expo that was held in Montreal). The Expos never had good luck, only having a Division title in 1981. By 2002, the team was suffering considerably, and the MLB considered revoking their franchise. In 2003-04, the Expos literally had no home, playing home games in San Juan, Puerto Rico. In 2005, the Expos moved from Montreal to Washington, DC, and were renamed the Nationals. The name itself was a combination of two origins: from 1886-89, there was a team named the Washington Nationals (or as they were also known, Statesmen), and the old Washington Senators were sometimes referred to as Nationals or Nats.
4. Blue Jays - The Blue Jays began in another expansion year - 1977. They are simply named after the bird. However, Toronto specifically wanted a blue mascot for their new team since blue was the traditional color for the mascots of the other professional teams in Toronto.
5. Braves - The Braves have a very long history. Few people know that the Braves began their history as the historically famous Cincinnati Red Stockings, the first MLB team, established in 1869. The team voted to dissolve after the 1870 season, and they set up their new home in Boston. Beginning in 1871, the team was known as the Boston Red Stockings at first then became known as the Beaneaters in 1883 (also sometimes called the Red Caps). When Boston started another team in 1901, the Beaneaters struggled, so to promote themselves better, they changed their name to the Doves in 1907, then changed it to the Rustlers in 1911. In 1912, the team was named the Braves in honor of their owner's affiliation with the Tammany Hall political machine (which used an Indian chief as its symbol). The Boston Braves remained until they moved to Milwaukee in 1953. The Braves again relocated, this time to Atlanta for the 1966 season.
Check back for Part 2!
Monday, June 4, 2012
10 Great Hoaxes - The Piltdown Man
Throughout history, there have been some hilarious, controversial, and confusing hoaxes that have been created. Hoaxes are different from urban legends, rumors, pseudoscience, or even jokes since a hoax is a deliberate and intentional attempt to create something that is false but present it as the truth. We will look at ten of the most interesting hoaxes that fooled a lot of people.
10. The Piltdown Man
The Piltdown Man is a very well known hoax to many people. Some hoaxes are fascinating, funny, mean, or just ho hum. The Piltdown Man is superior to most hoaxes in that it is still partially a mystery, but it remains a great hoax since it is still a highly contentious hoax for many as well as being one that defined science for some years.
It all began in 1912 when a man by the name of Charles Dawson provided the Geological Society of London a few fragments of skull that he said he was given a few years before. He claimed that some diggers were working in a gravel pit in Piltdown and found the skull. Supposedly, the men thought it was a fossilized coconut, so they broke it open. When it wasn't more than a skull, they gave the fragments to Dawson. Arthur Smith Woodward (who worked for the British Museum's geologic area) was extremely interested in the find and went with Dawson to the site where the skull fragments had been found. There they found more fragments and half of the jaw.
Woodward went on to reconstruct the skull with the pieces recovered. The appearance of the reconstruction seemed to suggest that the skull was rather human and the jaw was ape-like. The prevailing opinion at the time in the scientific community was that development began with the brain and spread to other parts, so this find seemed to indicate that. Woodward went so far as to say that the Piltdown Man findings were part of the missing link, which has always been the holy grail for scientists.
This announcement was met with immediate adversity. From 1913-1915, several papers were published claiming that it was clear that the skull was human and the jaw was an apes's. Woodward and Dawson (along with a friend) went to look for more fragments. Dawson then claimed to have found a second skull's fragments nearby, but the exact location has never been determined. Dawson died in 1916. Woodward went on to try to prove the second skull's fragments also presented an important proof of the first skull. When a second skull's fragments were found, most people who disputed the authenticity soon were silenced. The possibility of one human skull and ape jaw together was coincidental but possible, but a second was highly improbable to supposedly have been faked.
The Piltdown Man remains were used as scientific fact for a number of years. Having silenced most of the critics, the believing scientists began to base their findings and articles on the research that had been performed using the Piltdown Man. In 1938, a stone memorial was erected at the site of where the fragments had been discovered.
In 1953, an article was published in "Time" citing that the Piltdown Man was a fake. The fragments had been tested as being that of a human, orangutan, and chimpanzee. Some of the teeth had been modified and some of the fragments had been stained to show age. The true forger has never been identified, even though there are many possible suspects. The main theory is that Charles Dawson himself created the hoax, mostly from the fact that he had created fakes in the 20 years before the Piltdown Man was discovered.
Why was the hoax taken in so blindly? Two reasons. One is that scientists were looking for the missing link and wanted to find it, so the first chance it arrived, they jumped on it. The second is that British scientists wanted to claimed that the earliest humans were found on English soil. It was really a matter of cultural prejudice and nationalism that was a driving force in the acceptance by the British scientific community, and the skepticism of international scientific communities that led to the revelation that it was a hoax.
As said before, the Piltdown Man influenced scientific thought for 40 years. It led to a gray spot in archeology, palentology, and biology that has since been cleaned up, but the thought processes of those 40 years had to be re-examined once it was discovered as a hoax. During that time, the Piltdown Man had been used as evidence in the Scopes Trial in 1925. Maybe the trial would have resulted differently had the Piltdown Man been revealed sooner? All in all, the Piltdown Man is still a hotly debated issue: scientists are embarassed about it and creationists cite it as proof of the inaccuracies of the scientific community. Either way, the Piltdown Man represents the greatest and most famous paleontological hoax ever.
Bet you didn't know that!
10. The Piltdown Man
The Piltdown Man is a very well known hoax to many people. Some hoaxes are fascinating, funny, mean, or just ho hum. The Piltdown Man is superior to most hoaxes in that it is still partially a mystery, but it remains a great hoax since it is still a highly contentious hoax for many as well as being one that defined science for some years.
It all began in 1912 when a man by the name of Charles Dawson provided the Geological Society of London a few fragments of skull that he said he was given a few years before. He claimed that some diggers were working in a gravel pit in Piltdown and found the skull. Supposedly, the men thought it was a fossilized coconut, so they broke it open. When it wasn't more than a skull, they gave the fragments to Dawson. Arthur Smith Woodward (who worked for the British Museum's geologic area) was extremely interested in the find and went with Dawson to the site where the skull fragments had been found. There they found more fragments and half of the jaw.
Woodward went on to reconstruct the skull with the pieces recovered. The appearance of the reconstruction seemed to suggest that the skull was rather human and the jaw was ape-like. The prevailing opinion at the time in the scientific community was that development began with the brain and spread to other parts, so this find seemed to indicate that. Woodward went so far as to say that the Piltdown Man findings were part of the missing link, which has always been the holy grail for scientists.
This announcement was met with immediate adversity. From 1913-1915, several papers were published claiming that it was clear that the skull was human and the jaw was an apes's. Woodward and Dawson (along with a friend) went to look for more fragments. Dawson then claimed to have found a second skull's fragments nearby, but the exact location has never been determined. Dawson died in 1916. Woodward went on to try to prove the second skull's fragments also presented an important proof of the first skull. When a second skull's fragments were found, most people who disputed the authenticity soon were silenced. The possibility of one human skull and ape jaw together was coincidental but possible, but a second was highly improbable to supposedly have been faked.
The Piltdown Man remains were used as scientific fact for a number of years. Having silenced most of the critics, the believing scientists began to base their findings and articles on the research that had been performed using the Piltdown Man. In 1938, a stone memorial was erected at the site of where the fragments had been discovered.
In 1953, an article was published in "Time" citing that the Piltdown Man was a fake. The fragments had been tested as being that of a human, orangutan, and chimpanzee. Some of the teeth had been modified and some of the fragments had been stained to show age. The true forger has never been identified, even though there are many possible suspects. The main theory is that Charles Dawson himself created the hoax, mostly from the fact that he had created fakes in the 20 years before the Piltdown Man was discovered.
Why was the hoax taken in so blindly? Two reasons. One is that scientists were looking for the missing link and wanted to find it, so the first chance it arrived, they jumped on it. The second is that British scientists wanted to claimed that the earliest humans were found on English soil. It was really a matter of cultural prejudice and nationalism that was a driving force in the acceptance by the British scientific community, and the skepticism of international scientific communities that led to the revelation that it was a hoax.
As said before, the Piltdown Man influenced scientific thought for 40 years. It led to a gray spot in archeology, palentology, and biology that has since been cleaned up, but the thought processes of those 40 years had to be re-examined once it was discovered as a hoax. During that time, the Piltdown Man had been used as evidence in the Scopes Trial in 1925. Maybe the trial would have resulted differently had the Piltdown Man been revealed sooner? All in all, the Piltdown Man is still a hotly debated issue: scientists are embarassed about it and creationists cite it as proof of the inaccuracies of the scientific community. Either way, the Piltdown Man represents the greatest and most famous paleontological hoax ever.
Bet you didn't know that!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)